Apparatus for washing, dyeing, or otherwise treating articles with liquids



March 17, 1931- k. c. ANDERSON ,796,

APPARATUS FOR WASHING, DYEING, OR GTHERWISE TREATING ARTICLES WITH LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I gmwm K677776372 C. .fiderson,

March 17, 1931. c, ANDERSQN 1,796,312

APPARATUS FOR WASHING, DYEING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING ARTICLES WITH LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 5. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 glwuwntoz Kenneth C. j lnafem n Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH C; ANDERSON, OF CLINTON, IOWA APPARATUS FOR WASHING, DYEING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING ARTICLES WITH LIQUIDS Application filed January 5, 1929. Serial No. 330,689.

This invention relates to improvements in treating fabrics or articles with liquids and relates more particularly to an apparatus suitable for washing, or otherwise treating fabrics, dishes, and the like with'liquids.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device suitable for treating fabrics with a washing or dyeing fluid and for heat ing such articles as dishes, silverware, and the like with a washing or polishing fluid.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a machine within which fabrics or articles may be placed and cleaning, dyeing or other fluids caused to be repeatedly passed therethrough or therearound in opposite directions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of an exceedingly simple construction which will operate in a very efficient manner and which contains very few parts that may become broken or worn out from use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, parts of which are broken away, of the device embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken upon line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon line 44 of Fig. 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail view of a structural feature embodied in the invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the character A designates in its entiretyacasing structure adapted for housing substantially all of the mechanism embodying this device; Positioned within the housing preferably in spaced relation to the entire inner surface of the wall thereof is a cylinder B. This cylinder is constructed to receive fabrics or articles to be treated which are confined therein by means of a suitable receptacle 0. The cylinder B is constructed so as to communicate with the interior of the casing A at both ends of the cylinder. For the purpose of causing fluid to circulate alternately in opposite directions from one portion of the cylinder through the space between the cylinder and the casing and then into the opposite end of the cylinder, a plunger or the like I) is reciprocally mounted within the cylinder and is actuated by means of the mechanism E. i

The above brief description of the invention is believed to' be sufiicient to acquaint any one familiar with the art with the principal elements embodying this invention and the manner in which they cooperate to produce the desired results. For the purpose of more completely disclosing the structural details of the invention, the following com plete description will be given:

The casing A consists of a side wall portion 6 which may be of cylindrical formation as disclosed in the various figures or this casing may be of any other desired configuration. The casing is closed at one end by means of a permanent bottom 7 and at the opposite end by means of a cover 8 hinged at 9 to the wall 6 of the casing and retained at a diametrically opposite point by means of a latching bolt 10.

Positioned within the casing A is the cylinder B which includes a wall portion 11 that is disclosed as being of cylindrical formation. It is to be understood, however, that the cylinder may be of any other shape if desired. The lower end of the cylinder is supported in spaced relation with respect to the bottom 7 of the casing A by means of spaced feet 12. The lower end of the cylinder is provided with a fixed wall 13 formed with a plurality of apertures 14, disclosed best in Figs. 3 and 4. The side wall 11 of the cylinder is formed with two circular series of apertures 15 which are located adjacent the wall 6 of the casing A, the cylinder is provided at diametrically opposite points with a plurality of angles 17 having vertically extending portions permanently secured to the wall of the cylinder and radially extending arm portions loosely and slidably received between guiding flanges or ribs 18 formed on or secured to the inner face of the wall (3 of the casing A. These flanges or ribs 18 extend in parallelism with the axis of the cas ing A.

Removably positioned within the cylinder B is a container C which preferably is constructed from wire mesh 19. This container C may, however, be so constructed as to have a wire mesh top and bottom with the outer wall or periphery portion thereof formed or made of non-porous material such as tin or copper. The wire basket-like container C is formed with a bottom 20 retained in spaced relation with respect to the bot-tom 13 of the cylinder B by means of a flange or the like formed concentric with the side wall of the said basket. The top open end of the basket is reinforced by means of a ring or hoop 22. A diametrically extending bar or rod 23 is secured at its opposite ends to this ring or hoop 22. The bar of rod 23 materially strengthens the open end of the basket or container. This bar or rod 23 has secured thereto alocking member 24 formed with lugs 25 adapted to pass upwardly through an opening 26 formed in a disc 27 secured to the axial center of the basket top 28. After inserting the locking member through the opening 26 formed in the plate 27, a quarter turn of the locking device 24 will locate the lugs 25 out of register with the openings 26 and the cover 28 will be secured to the open end of the basket. A handle 29 is suitably mounted upon the cover 28 for the purpose of removing the cover or lifting the basket bodily out of the cylinder B. A spring latching device 30 is illustrated in Fig. 3 and is employed for having the bolt 31 spring pressed into a de pression 32 formed in the wall of the cylinder B. Any desired number of spring latching devices 30 may be secured to the cover 28 of the basket or container C for the purpose of retaining the said container in fixed relation with respect to the length of the cylinder B.

Mounted within the upper end portion of the cylinder B is a plunger D including the disc 33 secured at its axis to a rod 3& which in turn extends through the cover 8 of the casing A by way of an elongated opening or slot 35. The upper end of the rod 34 is pivotally and slidably connected to a lever 36 at the point 37. This lever is pivoted at 38 to a bracket 39 mounted on the wall of the casing A. For the purpose of yieldably closing the slot or opening 35, formed in the cover 8, with the exception of the space necessary for the operation of the rod 34:, a

closure plate 40 is slidably mounted upon the top face of the cover 8 and is retained in its proper position by means of guides 41. Springs 42 are connected at one end to the plate 40 and at their opposite ends to the cover 8 by means of pins or the like 43.

It is to be understood that any desired cleaning or dyeing fluid may be placed with in the casing A. After this fluid has performed its intended work, it may be withdrawn from the casing by means of a spigot or the like 44.

What I believe to be the preferred manner of operating this device may be described as follows:

The fabric or articles to be treated with fluid, which it is to be understood has been placed within the casing A, are placed within the basket or container C which in turn is positioned within the cylinder B and held down" by means of spring latching devices 30. The cover 8 for the casing A then is swung upon its hinge mounting 9 to permit the plunger D to be placed within the upper end portion of the cylinder B. The cover is then moved against the top of the casing A and is secured by the latching device 10. By reciprocating the plunger D through the medium of the mechanism E, the fluid within the cylinder and above the plunger D is, on an upward stroke of the said plunger, caused to move outwardly from the cylinder into the casing. The upward stroke of the plunger, of course, has increased the capacity of the cylinder B below the said plunger and the fluid located in the casing between the cylinder and the wall of the casing will be sucked into the lower end of the cylinder where it will be pulled upwardly through the fabric or articles retained within the container 0. Upon revers ing the direction of movement of the plunger D; namely, causing the plunger to move downwardly through the cylinder, the fluid within the cylinder and beneath the plunger will be forced downwardly through the articles within the container 0 and will be expelled from the lower end portion of the cylinder by way of the apertures 14 and 15. This movement of the fluid will cause the same to travel upwardly between the cylinder and casing and a proper portion of the fluid will overflow into the upper end of the cylinder to rest upon the plunger. It will be understod, therefore. that by reciprocating the plunger, the treating fluid will be caused to pass in opposite directions through the container C whereby the fabric or articles positioned within the container will be treated with the said fluid. Under ordinary circumstances, the plunger D will snugly fit the bore of the cylinder. If combustible cleaning fluids are used, however, it may be found desirable to reduce the diameter of the plunger so that friction will not be created by the rubbing of the periphery of the plunger against the bore of the cylinder.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, a casing, a cylinder mounted within the casing in spaced relation with respect to the wall there of and having openings communicating with the casing at opposite ends, means for retaining articles within one end portion of the cylinder in a relatively stationary position, and means movable through the opposite end portion of the cylinder for causing fluid to reciprocate through said one end portion of the cylinder and the articles therein.

2. In a device of the type described, a casing, a cylinder mounted within the casing in spaced relation with respect to the wall thereof, said cylinder having one end open and the other end provided with a multiplicity of apertures, a plunger reciprocally mounted within the cylinder adjacent the open end, means for operating the plunger, and a per forate container for supporting articles Within the end of the cylinder having means to maintain the articles out of contact with said plunger.

3. In a device of the type described, a casing, a cylinder mounted within the casing in spaced relation with respect to the wall thereof, said cylinder having an open end and an end portion provided with a multiplicity of apertures, a plunger reciprocally mounted within the cylinder adjacent the open end, means for operating the plunger, a perforate container positioned Within the end portion of the cylinder having said apertures, and means for retaining the container against axial movement within the cylinder.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a main casing designed to receive an operating liquid, a second casing provided with perforations and arranged substantially concentric within said main casing and having a longitudinal bore of uniform cross-sectional area, a plunger reciprocable within said bore, said second casing being designed to receive articles to be operated upon by said liquid as the latter surges into and out of said second casing in response to reciprocation of said plunger, and means for preventing contact between said plunger and the articles to be operated upon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature.

KENNETH C. ANDERSON. 

